Lower Lindsey Creek

Lindsey Creek is a major drainage located between Shellrock Mountain and Mt. Defiance on the south side of the Columbia River Gorge. This page describes the shorter, lower section of the creek (aka "Lower Lindsey). Lower Lindsey has a number of short drops and fun obstacles. This section is a nice one for training, an after-work adventure, or as simply something fun to do on a rainy day in the autumn. This section of the canyon takes only a few hours to run. Lindsey Creek drains a large part of the north face of Mt. Defiance, including North Lake and Bear Lake, and sports significant water into early August and September. Lindsey is likely quite dangerous earlier in the season. Hydraulics will be present at many of the falls in high water conditions. There are a number of deep pools along the way. Watershed: 4.45mi^2.

Note: the parking area is ONLY accessible from I-84 traveling eastbound. Take I-84 east into the Columbia Gorge. About 2.3mi past Wyeth (exit 51), park in a gravel pulloff just off the highway's shoulder. There is room for 4-5 vehicles. Be aware: this trailhead comes up fast and is easy to miss when moving at speed. Be ready for it. A gated powerline access track leads up from the pulloff. Do not block the gate. This is the same trailhead for Summit Creek. From the pullout, walk past the gate and follow the powerline access track upwards, crossing the paved bike path along the way. Once under the powerlines, bear left and follow the track on a rising traverse up to its end. There used to be an old user trail here leading south into the woods and dropping down to an overgrown logging track. Follow the old road grade south about two minutes and watch for a place where the user trail drops down into Lindsey Creek to your left. Follow the trail down and break off left when you can. There's a decent spot to change into wetsuits under some trees just adjacent to the creek. Drop in and head downstream about 5-10min to the first obstacle.

Lower Lindsey gets going as the creek enters a mini-narrows with wall-to-wall water. Creek turns a corner here into a large logjam. Climb out over a rock formation creek center.

A short streamwalk brings you to I-84 where the creek passes under the highway in a mighty culvert. Exit up either side to the bike path. Walk back to your car.